Doorway closure



April 6,. 1943. c, R, GQUDIE 2,315,953

DOORWAY CLOSURE Filed Feb. 11., 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i '1 /5 l QUINN" UU I fin n v1]! Ll l u April 6, 1943. c. R. GOUDIE DOORWAY CLOSURE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 11, 1942 Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE DOORWAY CLOSURE Charles R. Goudie, Kansas City, Mo.Application February 11, 1942, Serial No. 430,375

Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in closures for doorways. It isparticularly well adapted for use in closing the doorways of aeroplanehangers, and relates to the type in which the closure comprises twocooperating curtains of flexible sheet material.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of novel means forsuspending both of the curtains, so that they may be moved edgewise,folded without crumpling and disposed at the inner sidepf and clear ofthe doorway.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means for anchoringthe curtains in the stretched out closed position, mits quick releasing,so that the curtains may be quickly withdrawn to the open positions topermit rapid egress through the doorway of a plane in the hangar.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of novel means foreasily and quickly foldwhich means pering the curtains and storing themin the hangar clear of the doorway.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel closure fora doorway, which is simple, relatively inexpensive to make and erect inoperative condition, which is durable, not likely to get out of order,and which is efficient in its operation.

The novel features of my invention are hereina'fter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodimentof my invention:

Fig. l is a front elevation, partly broken away, showing the doorway ofa hangar closed by my improved closure mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, also partly broken away, showing thecurtains of my improved closure i'olded and withdrawn into the hangarand clear of the doorway, some parts being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the hangar, showing the curtains closed andanchored, the withdrawing means being omitted, for clearness.

Fig. 4 is an inside vertical cross sectional view, showing the curtainsclosed, parts being omitted.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view 01 a front portionof a hangar, showing one curtain in the closed anchored position, andparts broken away.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged inner elevation of a portion of the doorway,showing a curtain folded and adjacent to a the doorway, parts beingomitted and parts being broken away.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view oi the two jamb and still partly closingmechanisms for returning the two curtains to their initial closedpositions, the two inner pulleys adjacent to the adjacent meeting edgesof the curtains being shown separated, for clearness.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the differentviews.

I designates the arcuate roof of a hangar, opposite edges of which touchthe ground. 2 is the front doorway, which, preferably, convergesupwardly at its upper edge from the lambs 3 and 4.

5- and 6 designate respectively two curtains, which cooperate to form aclosure for the doorway 2 and have their upper edges upwardly convergingand disposed above and at the inner side of the doorway. The curtainsare alike in struc-- ture and mode of operation, and are composed ofpliable material, such a canvas impregnated or treated with fireprooflngand weather proofing material.

In order to conserve space in the width and height of the hangar, meansare provided by which the curtains 5 and 6 maybe supported so as to, bemoved in opposite directions edgewise from the closed stretched outconditions, in which their adjacent vertical edges meet, to a foldedcondition in which they are respectively disposed in the hangar atopposite sides of the doorway 2, as shown in Fig. 2. v

For supporting the curtains 5 and 6, there is provided a supportingmeans consisting of a transverse horizontal track, comprising, as shownin Fig. 5, an inverted U shaped channel I, supported in the hangar abovethe-doorway 2 by any suitable means, as brackets 8 attached to the underside of the roof structure I, Figs. 4 and 5.

The side walls 01 the channel I have respectively inwardly extendingspaced apart flanges 9 at their lower edges, on which flanges areadapted to I travel pairs of'rollers In, each pair of which carries anaxle I I having a stem I2 depending between the flanges 9 and having atits lower end an eye I3. The pairs of rollers I0 and the stems I2comprise carrying means adapted for travel on the channel track I.

For supporting the curtains 5 and 8, there are provided two sets offlexible strands I4, which are spaced apart and are attached to theinner sides respectively of the curtains from which they extend upwardlyand have their upper end portions fastened to and depending from one setof the eyes I 3 of one set of stems'll'. Thestrands It or each setsuccessively increase in their 7 lengths in those portions between thecurtain to which they are attached and the eyes I], from the meetingedge of the curtain toward the doorway rows of eyes anisms are provided.The curtains 5 and Bare provided with two alined transverse respectivelyl5, which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, are at the outer sides of thecurtains.

Two flexible strands l6 have one set of ends fastened respectively tothe curtains 5 and 6 adjacent to their meeting edges, and respectivelyslidably extend through the two rows of eyes l5 into the hangar atopposite sides of the doorway 2, and thence upwardly and laterally totwo pulleys H with which they respectively have running engagement. Twobrackets I8 form supporting means respectively for the pulleys l1, saidbrackets being fastened to opposite inner sides of the roof I, at pointsin a horizontal plane higher than the rows of eyes l5.

Anchoring means are provided for holding the lower end portions of thecurtains 5 and 6 in the closed positions, for preventing them beingswung inwardly or outwardly by the wind. Such anchoring means, as shownin Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, comprise the following described parts.

Extending into the ground in front of and spaced from the doorway 2 areanchoring members, consisting of stakes l9 disposed in an arc having itsconvex side out. The stakes l9 are stationed in the ground and have eyesrespectively at their upper ends, which, when the curtains are closedalternate between the eyes 2| of two alined rows fastened to the outersides respectively of the curtains 5 and 6 below the two rows of eyesl5. For holding the eyes 2| releasably to the eyes 20, two flexiblestrands 22 extend respectively loosely through the eyes H of the twocurtains and through the adjacent eyes 20, when the curtains are in theclosed positions,

Fig. 1.

The strands 22 extend at their distant end portions behind the doorwayJiambs respectively, and thence upwardly and laterally to and haverunning engagement with two pulleys 23 respectively mounted on thesameaxes as the pulleys I! On the brackets l8, Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

When the strands [6 are pulled within the hangar over the pulleys H, thestrands 22 are simultaneously pulled over the pulleys 23, thus for thecurtains. This arrangement permits the curtains to be gathered in theirelevated positions in the'hangar, clear of the doorway, and with aminimum of height and width of the hangar.

The lower ends of the curtains are anchored in the arc spaced from thedoorway to minimize the casting by them of shadows visible from above.For the same reason the roof I is arcuate throughout its width.

It is of especial importance, where a war plane is housed in the hangar,that the curtains 5 and 6 be opened as quickly as possible. For thisreason, the strands 22 have their adjacent ends left free, as shown inFigs. 1 and 3, so that they may instantly be withdrawn from the eyes 20of the anchoring stakes 19.

The end portions of the strands 22 which are within the hangar are, asshown in Fig. 5, closely adjacent to the adjacent end portions of thestrands I6, so that the adjacent pair of strands I6 and 22 may begrasped together and pulled, so that the strands 22 release from thestake eyes 20 simultaneously with the withdrawal of the curtains intofolds for storing in the hangar, as has been described.

The term strands as used herein as applied to the supporting members l4.and line like members I6 and 22, is intended to include cords, ropes,wires, cables or linear flexible members as chains.

, .Suitable means may be provided for restoring the curtains 5 and 6 tothe stretched out closed releasing the curtains 5 and 6 from theanchoring stakes is at the same time the curtains are gathered in folds,which extend upwardly and downwardly, until the curtains are adjacent tothe doorway jambs, as illustrated in Fig. 6.- Continued pulling on thestrands l6 and 22 will release the curtains from the strands 22, and thestrands l5 will gather the lower folded end portions of the curtains anddraw the curtains laterally and upwardly to the elevated positions,shown in Fig. 2, in which positions the curtains will clear the doorway2, thus permitting the egress of anaeroplane in the hangar.

By ha ing the pulleys I1 elevated and close to the doorway 2, space isconserved as to the width and height of the hangar.

While the curtains 5 and 6 are composed of material having sufficientpllability for folding, they are hard to closely gather into smallspace, and for. this reason, the strands l4 increase in their lengthsfrom the meeting edges of the curtains in those portions between theupper edges of the curtains and the carrying means positions. Foreffecting this function, the following described mechanism is provided.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and '7, 24 and 25 designate two pulleys mountedside by side on a stud 26 extending rearwardly from the rear side andcentral portion of the channel track I.

Fastened to the inner side of the roof I, at opposite sides of thedoorway 2 and respectively adjacent to the ends of the track I are twobrackets 21 and 28 which respectively support two pairs of pulleys 29and 30, each pair of which is rotatable on the same axis pin 3|. Forclearness, in the diagrammatical view Fig. '7, the pulleys 24 and 25 areshown with different axes, as are the pairs of pulleys 29 and 30.

Two loop-like endless strands 32 are respectively mounted on the centralpulleys 24 and 25 and extend in opposite directions transversely at therear side of the track to and respectively have running engagementwiththe pulleys 2! and 30. One of the loop strands 32 is fastened to thestem [2 which is next adjacent to the inner or meeting edge of one ofthe curtains, and the other loop strand 32 is fastened to the stem IIwhich is attached to the other curtain at its meeting edge.

By drawing either loop strand 32 in the proper direction, the curtain towhich it is attached is drawn from the stored folded position to itsstretched out closed position.

The strands 22, after the curtains have been restored to their closedstretched out positions, may then be threaded through the eyes 2| andthe eyes 20 of the stakes l9, and the curtains thus reanchored in theirclosed positions.

Many modifications of my invention may be made, within the scope of theappended claims, githout departing from the spirit of my inven- What Iclaim is:

1. In a closure for a doorway, a curtain adapted to extend across thedoorway, transverse supporting means at the inner side of and above thedoorway, carrying means supported by and adapted for travel along saidsupporting means, spaced apart flexible strands depending from saidcarrying means and attached to the upper edge of and supporting saidcurtain, and means by which said curtain, when stretched out and closed,may be moved edgewise from one vertical edge and gathered in upwardlyand downwardly extending folds and then swung at its lower folded endportion upwardly and laterally to a position at the inner side and clearof the doorway.

2. In a closure for a doorway, a curtain adapted to extend across thedoorway, transverse supporting means at the inner side of and above thedoorway, carrying means supported by and adapted for travel along saidsupporting means, spaced apart flexible strands depending from saidcarrying means and attached to the upper edge of and supporting saidcurtain, and successively increasing in their lengths in those portionsbetween said curtain and said carrying means from adjacent to onevertical edge of said curtain toward one jamb of the doorway, and meansby which said curtain, when stretched out and closed, may be movededgewise from said vertical edge and gathered in upwardly and downwardlyextending folds and then swung at its lower folded end portion upwardlyand laterally to a position at the inner side and clear of the doorway.

3. In a closure for a doorway, a curtain adapted to extend across thedoorway, transverse supporting means at the inner side of and above thedoorway, carrying means supported by and adapted for travel along saidsupporting means, spaced apart flexible strands depending from saidcarrying means and attached to the upper edge of and supporting saidcurtain, means by which said curtain, when stretched out and closed maybe drawn edgewise, gathered into folds extending upwardly and downwardlyand disposed at one and the inner side of the doorway, and means foranchoring releasably the lower end of the curtain in its closedposition.

4. In a closure for a doorway, a curtain adapted to extend across thedoorway, transverse supporting means at the inner side of and above thedoorway, carrying means supported by and adapted for travel along saidsupporting means, spaced apart flexible strands depending from saidcarrying means and attached to the upper edge of and supporting saidcurtain, means by which said curtain, when stretched out and closed, maybe moved edgewise, gathered into upwardly and downwardly extending foldsand disposed at one end and the inner side of the doorway, said curtainhaving a transverse row of spaced apart eyes, a transverse row ofanchoring members spaced apart and having eyes respectively stationedadjacent to the lower end of said curtain when said curtain is stretchedout in its closing position, and a flexible strand re- I to the upperedge of and supporting said ourtain, a flexible strand attached at oneend to said curtain adjacent to one vertical edge thereof and extendingthrough and having slidable engagement with the eyes of one of said rowsand having its other end portion at one end of and at the inner side ofthe doorway, a transverse row of anchoring members, each having an eye,and spaced apart and stationed adjacent to the lower end of saidcurtain, and a flexible strand removably slidable in the eyes of theother row on said curtain and in the eyes of said anchoring members.

6. In a closure for a doorway, a curtain adapted to be extended acrossthe doorway, transverse supporting means above the doorway, carryingmeans supported by and adapted for travel along said supporting means,spaced apart flexible strands depending from said carryingmeans andattached to the upper edge of and supporting said curtain, means bywhich said curtain may be moved edgewise from a stretched out closedposition, gathered into folds, and in folded position positioned at oneend of and clear of the doorway, and means for anchoring the lowerend ofsaid curtain in a stretched out arcuate form extending outwardly fromone jamb of the doorway with the convex side at the outer side.

7. In a closure for a doorway, a curtain adapted to be extended from onejamb across the doorway, and having a transverse row of spaced aparteyes, means for slidably supporting the ported by and adapted for travelalong said supupper edge of said curtain, so that it may be movededgewise into upwardly and downwardly extending folds from a stretchedout closed position to a position beyond the lamb and clear of thedoorway, a transverse row of anchoring members having respectively eyesand disposed adjacent to the lower end of said curtain when the latterisin its stretched out position, and a flexible strand removably slidablein the eyes of said row on the curtain and in the eyes of said row ofanchoring members, said eyes of said two rows arranged alternately.

8. In a closure for a doorway, a curtain having a transverse row ofspaced apart eye's, means for supporting said curtain by which it can.be moved edgewise from a stretched out closed position across thedoorway to a folded position at one side of and clear of the doorway, anarcuate row of anchoring members spaced apart and respectively havingeyes alternating with said eyes of said curtain when said curtain isstretched out, and a flexible strand removably slidable through said tworows of eyes for anchoring said curtain in the stretched out closedposition, the convex side of said row of anchoring members being at theouter side of the row.

9. In a closure for a doorway, a curtain having a transverse row ofspaced apart eyes, means for supporting said curtain by whlch'lt may bemoved edgewise from a stretched out closed position across said doorwayto a folded position at one side of and clear of the doorway, a flexiblestrand fastened at one end to said curtain adjacent to one vertical edgethereof and extending through and having running engagement with saideyes, and supporting means at the inner side of said doorway and beyondone' end thereof with which the free end portion of said flexible memberhas running engagement, and by which, when said flexible member is drawnto pull the curtain into the folded position, the folded lower endportion of the curtain will be drawn upwardly and laterally at one endof and clear or the doorway.

10. In a closure for a doorway, a curtain having a transverse row 01'spaced apart eyes, transverse supporting means above and at the innerside of the doorway, carrying means adapted for travel on and supportedby said supporting means, spaced apart flexible strands depending fromsaid carrying means and attached to and supporting said curtain andsuccessively increasing in lengths in those portions between saidcurtain and said carrying means from one vertical edge of said curtaintoward one Jamb of the doorway, supporting means beyond said jamb at theinner side of the doorway, and a flexible strand attached at one end tosaid curtain ad- Jacent to said vertical edge thereof and extendingthrough and having running engagement with said eyes and extendingupwardly thereior to and having running engagement with said last 10named supporting means.

CHARLES R. GOUDIE.

